Record sales during the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity, which ended December 16 in Fort Worth, reflect the increasing popularity of the sport. This year’s sales, produced by Western Bloodstock, saw all-time high prices paid in three categories.
Curlys Cowgirl, consigned by Dick Gaines, set a new yearling record of $500,000. The Zack T Wood daughter, full sister to champions Wood Ya Wanna and Wood I Never, sold to Stan Thomas, Newman, GA.
Bet Hesa Cat, a red roan by High Brow Cat and out of world champion Bet Yer Blue Boons, set a yearling colt record of $400,000. Consigned by Teddy Price, he was purchased by trainer Austin Shepard for the Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate.
Shes Brilliant, consigned by Tommy Manion, tied the previous yearling auction record. The High Brow Cat daughter, a full sister to NCHA Horse of the Year Smooth As A Cat, brought $390,000 from Stan Thomas. The previous record was for the High Brow Cat daughter Catalaney, out of leading producer Laney Doc, during the 2004 EE Ranches Sale.
Five-year-old Absolutely Stunning, with siblings that have earned over $715,000, set a new record for seasoned cutting horse at $575,000. The red roan daughter of Smart Little Lena, from the family of all-time producer Royal Blue Boon, is the earner of $102,000. She was consigned by Tommy Manion and Karen Freeman and purchased by Jackson Land & Cattle, which purchased cutting sire Peptoboonsmal privately last spring.
Four-year-old Shes Icing On The Cat, winner of $237,000 under Wes Galyean, broke the previous record for a seasoned cutting horse at auction with a price of $500,000. The High Brow Cat daughter, consigned by Galyean, was purchased by Ken Jackson, Owensville, MO, who purchased the weanling filly All Boon at the 2006 NCHA Futurity Sales for a record $750,000.
A new two-year-old record was established with the sale of What A Smooth Cat for $225,000. The son of Smooth As A Cat, out of Nurse What, was consigned by Lee Gaule and purchased by Lynn Leedy. SDP Tell Me Kitty, a filly sired by Mr Jay Bar Cat, tied the previous two-year-old record at $200,000. She was consigned by Trey Hunt and sold to Sandra Sabey.
Cutting has outpaced all non-racing events as the richest and fastest growing segment of the performance horse industry. The National Cutting Horse Association paid $42 million in purses during 2007, and the NCHA Futurity, which concluded last weekend in Fort Worth, offered a record purse of $4.2 million.